Greenland’s political parties unite to reject US President Trump’s suggestion of seizing the territory, asserting their right to self-determination
NUUK: Greenland’s political leaders have firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s renewed suggestion of seizing the mineral-rich autonomous territory.
The leaders of five parties in Greenland’s parliament issued a joint statement late Friday following Trump’s comments.
“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the statement declared.
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders,” they added.
“No other country can meddle in this.”
Trump had repeated that Washington was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not”.
He suggested controlling the island was crucial for US national security due to rising Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.
“We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland,” Trump said Friday.
“So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way.”
European capitals have been scrambling to formulate a coordinated response to the threats.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Trump’s “blackmail must stop”.
“Greenland is a European territory, placed under the protection of NATO,” Barrot stated in a Saturday interview.
He added he did not believe a US military intervention would happen.
A Danish poll published Saturday found more than 38% of Danes think the US will invade Greenland under Trump.
Greenland, a Danish colony until 1953, gained home rule in 1979 and contemplates eventual independence.
Many Greenlanders expressed caution and concern over the US interference.
“American? No! We were a colony for so many years. We’re not ready to be a colony again,” said Julius Nielsen, a 48-year-old fisherman in Nuuk.
Shop assistant Inaluk Pedersen, 21, said the US interference “disrupts all relationships and trust” between Denmark and Greenland.
The current ruling coalition in Greenland does not favour hasty independence.
The sole opposition party, Naleraq, which wants to cut ties quickly, also signed the joint rejection of US intervention.
Denmark and European allies have voiced shock at Trump’s threats towards the strategic island.
The US has maintained a military base in Greenland since World War II.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned an invasion would end “everything”, meaning the NATO pact and post-war security structure.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to meet next week with Danish and Greenlandic officials.
A flurry of diplomacy is underway as Europeans try to avert a crisis.
Trump had previously offered to buy Greenland in 2019 during his first term but was rebuffed.
